The contradiction of the opposing stances in boxing is something that I have always found fascinating. The subtle differences between a southpaw (left-hander) facing an orthodox (right-hander) often cause confusion, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this video and article I am going to offer some very simple guidance on how to apply some tactics to effectively manage an opponent with an opposing stance.
Regardless of whether you are a southpaw boxer or an orthodox boxer the content of this video will really help.
There is a ton of stuff that the southpaw versus orthodox encounter drives out. We can sometimes though be guilty of over-analysing the situation. To keep things nice and simple, I like to think of the encounter in terms of ‘safe zones’.
The safe zone is simply the place where the opponent with an opposing stance can land the fewest meaningful shots.
If you are an orthodox boxer facing a southpaw boxer, your safe zone is to your left. This means that you are staying away from the power left hand (back hand) of your southpaw opponent. It is also very difficult for the southpaw boxer to connect with a properly leveraged lead hand hook when you are in the safe zone.
The same is then true if you are a southpaw boxer facing an orthodox boxer, only in reverse. You as a southpaw boxer must dominate the ground to your right, thus moving away from the power back hand of the orthodox boxer.
You can see then that there is a battle to hold the same ground at the same time for the same purpose. The key is to apply tactics that allow you to get your lead foot ‘outside’ that of your opponent. You gain the safe zone and keep them in the strike zone.
If you are going to move the opposite way, away from the safe zone, do so whilst moving ever so slightly back at the same time. This will mean that any back hand coming your way should, hopefully, fall short and you can push in to land your own power back hand.
There is much more we could discuss, but even trying to stick to 90 seconds to explain this simple principle I ended up taking 114 seconds…I’m getting sloppy.
Cheers
Fran
by 
Sir that is exactly what I teach as well. I am a southpaw. If I face a lefty, I turn into a lefty. If I face a righty, I turn into a righty. Like you said the key is over play your lead foot so that when he attacks or you attack you block, hit the lead arm over a few inches at the same time after pushing off towards him your lead foot hooks his lead foot and then you are past his “Shield Arm”. Then it is backfist in the nose, elbow to the head, groin grab and a back leg knee into him. I know but this is combat self defense. Great minds think alike. Yours in health, Owen
👍 Crossover skills very well pointed out Owen – thank you
Thanks Fran another insightful and excellent video, makes great sense like constantly circling away from an opponents rear power hand whichever stance you may be facing. Also keeping in safe zone constantly frustrates them from being able to throw their best most powerful shots. Great job much appreciated!
Hello Steve. Yes, that’s it. Whilst the skills we coach are are same, it’s the tactics that vary…this is especially true with southpaws and orthodox interactions😀. Thanks Steve, appreciate your comment.
cheer again Fran . Any chance of a vid on how to change from rear guard action to this and then to drowning them please .
Hello mate. Will think that one through and see if I can come up with something. When you say rear guard action, do you mean fighting strong on the back foot and then closing quickly to close range?
Good points Fran and much appreciated. How about some comments for the southpaw working against the orthodox opponent?
Thanks and you’re welcome. Same in reverse, it’s about who uses the tactics most effectively…that’s they key.
Yes Fran, thanks. I can indeed see where you’re coming from now.
Ignore please. posted in wrong place!
Hi Fran very good video , very nice explanation on winning the safe ground, Im a big fan of Vasyl Lomachenko and he really does try at every opportunity to get around his opponent outside the left shoulder ( of an othordox), he also does what i can only really call a push pivot where he kind of pivots off his opponent by keeping his arm in after his last punch and pushes off from it with a pivot or a short step this seems to be very effective and gives him some fantastic angles. Hope you are well keep up the good work mate
Regards Mark
Brilliant
Thanks Mark, I wanted to see whether anyone came up with Lomachenko as a perfect example of executing this tactic – he constantly shifts to the safe zone and is the ultimate expert at it. One of my fellow coaches visiting the site comes up trumps again 🙂
I’m all good, I hope that all us well with you and the gym.
Cheers
Iv listened and taken on bourd all of your tips,very good
Hey Jim
Wow, really flattered that someone of your background and skills is even taking the time to watch my vids, let alone practice them! You’ve made my week Jim, thanks for taking the time out to watch and comment, I appreciate it.
PS – Really like your site and vids, just watched a couple of them!
Nice video Fran. Taking me as an orthodox boxer against a southpaw, I can see why I wouldn’t want to move to my right and into the southpaw’s backhand. But if I move to my left instead am I not just walking into the southpaw’s leadhand hook? Sorry, I see you’ve referred to it briefly above but I still can’t quite see why it’s any less of a danger to move left rather than right. Thanks.
Thanks for the question Kenny. It’s really about the fact that moving to your left means that your head is in a more narrow strike zone. That is to say that a southpaw back hand can do more damage across a wider strike zone whereas the lead hand loses it’s power pretty quickly as you move to your left. Hope this makes sense?
Yes Fran, thanks. I can indeed see where you’re coming from now.
P.s. Sorry for duplicate posting at the top by mistake!